Heterogeneous teams for homogeneous performance

Trabajo presentado en 21st International Conference on Principles and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems (PRIMA 2018), celebrado en Tokio (Japón), del 29 de octubre al 2 de noviembre de 2018Co-operative learning is used to refer to learning procedures for heterogeneous teams in which individuals and teamwork are organised to complete academic tasks. Key factors of team performance are competencies, personality and gender of team members. Here, we present a computational model that incorporates these key factors to form heterogeneous teams. In addition, we propose efficient algorithms to partition a classroom into teams of even size and homogeneous performance. The first algorithm is based on an ILP formulation. For small problem instances, this approach is appropriate. However, this is not the case for large problems for which we propose a heuristic algorithm. We study the computational properties of both algorithms when grouping students in a classroom into teams.Peer reviewe

It's a Matter of Congruence: How Interpersonal Identification between Sales Managers and Salespersons Shapes Sales Success

In recent years, marketing research and practice have recognized the importance of managing frontline employees' identification. However, investigations so far have focused on identification at the collective level of the self, such as organizational identification, thereby largely neglecting important interpersonal identification processes at the relational level. Using a large-scale data set comprising information from sales managers and salespeople as well as company data on customer satisfaction and sales performance, the authors make a first attempt to address this neglect by exploring important phenomena of interpersonal identification in the sales manager-salesperson dyad. Results show that initial increases in the level of identification congruence between sales managers and their respective salespeople yield positive incremental effects on sales performance and customer satisfaction. Findings also show that interpersonal over-identification and identification incongruence are negatively related to both outcomes. Results demonstrate how sales managers could mitigate these negative effects

Solution Formulation Development of a VEGF Inhibitor for Intravitreal Injection

PF-00337210 is a potent, selective small molecule inhibitor of VEGFRs and has been under consideration for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. An ophthalmic solution formulation intended for intravitreal injection was developed. This formulation was designed to maximize drug properties such that the formulation would precipitate upon injection into the vitreous for sustained delivery. As a parenteral formulation with additional constraints dictated by this specialized delivery route, multiple features were balanced in order to develop a successful formulation. Some of these considerations included low dosing volumes (≤0.1 mL), a limited repertoire of safe excipients for intravitreal injection, and the unique physical chemical properties of the drug. The aqueous solubility as a function of pH was characterized, buffer stressing studies to select the minimal amount of buffer were conducted, and both chemical and physical stability studies were executed. The selected formulation consisted of an isotonic solution comprised of PF-00337210 free base in a citrate-buffered vehicle containing NaCl for tonicity. The highest strength for regulatory toxicology studies was 60 mg/mL. The selected formulation exhibited sufficient chemical stability upon storage with no precipitation, and acceptable potency and recovery through an intravitreal dosing syringe. Formulation performance was simulated by precipitation experiments using extracted vitreous humor. In simulated injection experiments, PF-00337210 solutions reproducibly precipitated upon introduction to the vitreous so that a depot was formed. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a nonpolymeric in situ-forming depot formulation has been developed for intravitreal delivery, with the active ingredient as the precipitating agent

Evolution, Separation and Convergence of Employee Voice Concept

This chapter discusses the early conceptualisation of employee voice within the human resource management, employment relations and organisational behaviour disciplines. The chapter identifies the significant turning points within the literature and the resultant divergent pathways that these disciplines took with regard to the conceptualisation and study of voice. The discussion then focuses on ways to better integrate the disparate voice literature. Following this, future directions are provided to guide new voice studies where an integrated concept of voice can be applied. Accordingly, it is proposed that future voice studies should consider both employer and employee interests and formal and informal voice.No Full Tex